Graduate Development Fund

Overview

In recognition of the importance of graduate students’ academic development in presenting their research, the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies offers the Graduate Development Fund (GDF) to subsidize students’ travel costs to events for presentation of their scholarly or creative work.

Applications are reviewed and allocations determined by the Faculty of Graduate Studies

Allocated funds are posted to the student account (STAC) of each successful applicant after adjudication

Value and Duration

Allocation amounts may vary based on the amount of applications and the number of high-expense applications in any given application cycle.

Successful applications are generally allocated a portion rather than the total amount of transportation costs. Students are expected to use the most economical option available and are encouraged to seek other sources of funding.

Allocations may vary based on distance of travel and mode of transportation. For illustrative purposes only, assuming departure from Toronto:

a student travelling to Quebec City might be allocated a $60 subsidy for train fare;

a student flying within North America might be allocated a subsidy to a maximum of $250; and/or,

a student travelling overseas might be allocated a subsidy to a maximum of $500.

Regardless of event dates, the maximum number of allocations provided in a given year (May 1 to April 30) is generally two (2).

Eligibility

Eligible Applicant

All registered York graduate students, except for students registered in any graduate program affiliated with the Schulich School of Business

Generally, students must be registered as York graduate students on the date of application and the date of presentation.

Eligible Expenses

Transportation costs necessary for York graduate students to present their scholarly or creative work at recognized events, e.g., conferences, colloquia, poster presentations and exhibitions

Transportation expenses incurred for travel to/from an event taking place within seven (7) months prior to the application deadline or six (6) months after the application deadline

Ineligible Expenses

Costs for transportation to commercial events and/or events for which students are remunerated for presenting

Costs for local travel around an event site, e.g., fares for taxis, public transit, ferry

Deadlines

There is one competition per year, in Spring

The online portion of the 2018 GDF application will be available until August 10.

Completed and signed paper applications must be received by FGS by August 10.

Applicants are strongly advised to complete the online portion of the application well in advance of the deadline to give adequate time to obtain the required signature and comments from their supervisor

Applications received incomplete or after the published deadlines will be deemed ineligible for consideration

Applications received incomplete or after the published deadlines will not be considered